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Sneaking onto the U.S. Navy's mothball fleet

m88.358winm88.358win Member Posts: 7,269 ✭✭✭
edited July 2015 in General Discussion
I used to drive by these ships every day for over ten years and always wondered what it would be like to explore inside them.

http://scotthaefner.com/beyond/mothball-fleet-ghost-ships/
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Comments

  • fishkiller41fishkiller41 Member Posts: 50,608
    edited November -1
    I don't guess the "security" personnel really care that much.
    they said they were spotted inside the 500" no trespass zone and they did nothing...
    I wonder what the penalty is for trespassing on those ships.
    As long as they didn't vandalize them.
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  • fideaufideau Member Posts: 11,895 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I remember seeing hundreds of Liberty ships stored near Wilmington in the 1960s. They say the last one was removed and scrapped around 1970.
    We drove by them on the way to Carolina Beach. It was amazing to see so many lined up on the river. Didn't really know what they were at the time.
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  • mmppresmmppres Member Posts: 3,194 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    was cool but not to bright
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  • FrancFFrancF Member Posts: 35,279 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Still wonder if it would be Fiscally feasible to link the newer ones together for desalinization. Bet it could be done for a 1/4 of the coast of our train to no where.

    Also willing to bet there is enough replacement parts sitting in US navy surplus to repair and replace.
    .
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  • OakieOakie Member Posts: 40,565 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    That was cool. Would love to sneak on board one of those ships, especially a carrier.[;)]
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  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I don't know if any of you saw my post about Cruise Ships But The James river had the USS GORDON in their moth ball fleet for 10 years and then it was refitted for a TROUPE carrier I sailed on a 19 day trip From Hawaii to VIETNAM 1966 On that rust bucket. ART BELTRONE
    Wrote a great book about these ships . Take my word for it You NEVER wanted to make a trip in one 3 minute Shower sleep on a RACK 6 high in each compartment if you got in on your back you got out on your back You could not turn over if you wanted to
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  • fishkiller41fishkiller41 Member Posts: 50,608
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Oakie
    That was cool. Would love to sneak on board one of those ships, especially a carrier.[;)]

    Me too John.I would LOVE to walk around in an abandoned carrier...I bet it wouldn't be too tough to get lost in one.
    Of course,if U just keep going UP,you'd eventually find your way out.[^]
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  • ChrisInTempeChrisInTempe Member Posts: 15,562 ✭
    edited November -1
    It is a cool and fascinating bit of exploring, would love to do it too. [:)]

    Can't help but get the impression the security guards were not fooled and weren't all that concerned either. As in they put the spot light on the guys several times just checking that they had not sunk in their little raft.
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  • 11b6r11b6r Member Posts: 16,584 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    What would it be like to go aboard one? Been there, done that. Dirty, dangerous and unhealthy. Lead, asbestos, potential for bad air in closed compartments, the Fungus from Hell in bilgewater, etc.
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  • EVILDR235EVILDR235 Member Posts: 4,398 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I lived in the Napa/Vallejo area for 32 years and drove past the mothball fleet 5 days a week for 5-1/2 years. My father inlaws ashes were scattered in Susuin Bay near the fleet. He was a 25 year navy veteran fighting in WWII aboard the U.S.S.Lamson and I started my voyage in life at Mare Island Navel Shipyard.

    EvilDr235
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  • JamesRKJamesRK Member Posts: 25,670 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by fishkiller41
    I don't guess the "security" personnel really care that much.
    they said they were spotted inside the 500" no trespass zone and they did nothing...
    I wonder what the penalty is for trespassing on those ships.
    As long as they didn't vandalize them.
    About the only reason they care at all is a trespasser could get hurt and hold the government or contractor responsible for not preventing it.

    The ships have been cannibalized of most anything of value and if there ever was any classified gear it is gone now.

    I don't know if they still do it, but you used to be able to arrange a time and date to wander around and look at anything you want to see. There is plenty of history, but little of anything else. Some of the ships you would think would be treated with reverence or should be a museum some place are just parked, cannibalized, preserved and forgotten.
    The road to hell is paved with COMPROMISE.
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  • MercuryMercury Member Posts: 7,840 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Very cool! I lived in Fairfield CA for three years, while and after I was stationed at Travis AFB. Used to fish in the bay, god only knows what the fish were poisoned with from those ships!


    Merc
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  • JamesRKJamesRK Member Posts: 25,670 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I would imagine mostly mercury and lead with traces of everything else.

    Looking at the bright side, the extra eyes, arms and legs can be right handy at times, and glowing in the dark will save you a fortune on flashlights and batteries.
    The road to hell is paved with COMPROMISE.
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  • shilowarshilowar Member Posts: 38,811 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by ChrisInTempe
    It is a cool and fascinating bit of exploring, would love to do it too. [:)]



    +1
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  • mogley98mogley98 Member Posts: 18,291 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I was on the USS Ortolan ASR-22 I thought it was mothballed when I served on it!
    Why don't we go to school and work on the weekends and take the week off!
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  • ChrisInTempeChrisInTempe Member Posts: 15,562 ✭
    edited November -1
    In my contract work aboard research ship's I had to do two spelunking trips into bilge tanks along the keel. This was taking measurements for new sonar cables. This was tied up to a pier at an Antarctic research station. Captain had the tanks purged and air blown thru for some hours before he let me go in.

    Went in wearing a dark blue engine crew jumpsuit.

    Came out in a rust red jumpsuit.
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  • JamesRKJamesRK Member Posts: 25,670 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by ChrisInTempe
    In my contract work aboard research ship's I had to do two spelunking trips into bilge tanks along the keel. This was taking measurements for new sonar cables. This was tied up to a pier at an Antarctic research station. Captain had the tanks purged and air blown thru for some hours before he let me go in.

    Went in wearing a dark blue engine crew jumpsuit.

    Came out in a rust red jumpsuit.

    Admiral Rickover used to like to crawl around in the bilges and try to find a dirty spot on his white coveralls when he came out. [:D]
    The road to hell is paved with COMPROMISE.
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